Local males suffering from the sickness called hydrocele (the enlargement of the male’s scrotum) can get free treatment through the combined effort of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation.
In its continuous efforts to improve the health of people of Fiji and with support from WHO, the Ministry of Health is now bringing together a team to provide appropriate care to those people who are suffering from hydrocele.
The surgical team will be made of experienced surgeon and anaesthetist. The WHO lymphatic filariasis morbidity control officer will accompany them to liaise with patients, provide support and facilitate the work of the surgical team.
The team will be in Rakiraki starting Monday 7 September 2009 for about 2 weeks before moving to Nadi. Northern and Central Divisions will be covered in October and November 2009.
Hydrocele is a form of Lymphatic Filariasis, which is a debilitating disease transmitted by mosquitoes.
Lymphatic Filariasis is a disfiguring disease that leads to elephantiasis, also called mate ni waqaqa (big leg, big arm, enlarged breast) In Fijian and to hydrocele, an increase in the volume of male's scrotum. This increase can reach huge proportions and has an enormous social, economic, physical and psychological impact on the sufferers and their families.
As of today a number of 279 cases have been found in the Western, Northern and Central divisions. Most of these people have been suffering in silence and a number of them are now confined at home or feel ashamed to go out. As a result they do not receive the care they need.
The number of cases found confirms that despite the common beliefs met in Fiji, the disease is still present in all areas of the country.
In most of the cases, hydrocele (enlargement of the male's scrotum) due to lymphatic filariasis can be treated by surgery and men can quickly return to a normal life.
Despite efforts to contain it the infection continued to be transmitted and the parasite is still present in the community as showed by the 2007 prevalence survey which found nearly 10% of the population infected in Fiji.
Fiji joined the Global efforts in 1999, which set the goal to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2020 and the country just completed its annual Mass Drug Administration of
anti-filariasis drugs in a continuous effort to stop the transmission of the disease. Thanks to the increased efforts and commitment of all concerned. A much higher coverage than in previous campaigns is expected this year.
At the beginning of 2009 with the support from the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health started to identify and register people suffering from the disfiguring stages of the disease in order to provide them with appropriate care.
The Ministry of Health would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the continuous and strong support of the World Health Organization in its attempt to improve the health of the people of Fiji and the surgical team who has agreed to travel throughout the country to provide appropriate care and treatment to patients suffering from the disfiguring consequences of Lymphatic Filariasis infection.